Cranberry Apple Crockpot Oatmeal (Great Meal Prep Recipe)
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Cranberry Apple Crockpot Oatmeal is a simple recipe that is bursting with flavor. Sweet and creamy oatmeal speckled with chunks of apple and cranberry is a favorite around here! Slow cooker oatmeal is absolutely amazing and a great way to fuel up before a busy day. Hearty, wholesome, and delish!!
Waking up to a healthy breakfast ready and waiting the next morning is the best feeling! Overnight oats is one of my favorite ways to have hot oatmeal ready to eat on busy mornings.
Most people forget to add this delicious breakfast recipe to their radar – but it’s an easy meal prep idea that literally feeds the whole family fast.
There’s no better way to make a hot bowl of oatmeal, in my opinion, and I use this easy recipe all the time.
Not only is it a hearty breakfast, but it’s such a good thing to make for all the family members because everyone gets to add their own favorite toppings.
I like to add chia seeds for a little crunch and a little maple syrup for sweetness, but that’s just my perfect way.
There are so many different ways that everyone can customize their individual portions – and it’s so simple to do! Add this to your list of favorite breakfasts to make because it’s an awesome way to kick off the morning.
This slow cooker oatmeal recipe makes a warm breakfast that is a great option for everyone to enjoy.
Table of Contents
Crock Pot Oatmeal
As much as I enjoy a hot breakfast — and love for Munchkin to have a really great breakfast — I am beyond standing in front of a stove most mornings.
Enter the crockpot breakfast. Brilliant! It’s the perfect breakfast for weekday mornings!
Get ready to meet your newest breakfast obsession: Cranberry Apple Crockpot Oatmeal!
Prep it the night before, then just dump it all in your crockpot and let it cook while you get ready for the day. Or, cook it overnight if you prefer.
This slow cooker oatmeal is absolutely amazing and will surely be a family favorite. You could also try this cranberry walnut baked oatmeal!
Cranberry fans will also enjoy cranberry orange quick bread and cranberry maple donut bread pudding — the latter is the ultimate choice for a more decadent breakfast option!!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Old-Fashioned Oats – Opt for old-fashioned oats (also called rolled oats) for your slow cooker oatmeal.
They soften up nicely and will give you a really creamy texture.
You could also use steel oats, but I don’t recommend using instant. - Apples – Use your favorite variety, but make sure they’re cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Brown Sugar – I absolutely LOVE using brown sugar in crockpot apple oatmeal. It complements the fruit perfectly and adds depth to the overall dish.
- Craisins – Here’s where the cranberry flavor in this crockpot oatmeal recipe comes from!
Alternatively, you could use fresh berries for even more tartness. You may consider adding a touch of honey to the mix to balance it out. - Butter – I’m using unsalted butter because I like to add a bit of salt. You could also use salted and leave that extra pinch out.
You can also add some chocolate chips to this great recipe for a bit of sweetness!
Helpful Tips to Make Slow Cooker Oatmeal
- Prepare it the night before.
Half the beauty of making this crockpot oatmeal recipe is that you can prep it the night before!
Add the apples, craisins, and butter to a Ziploc bag and refrigerate. Then, combine oats, brown sugar, and salt into a separate zip-top bag and set aside.
In the morning, pour both bags into the slow cooker, add water, and turn it on. Voila!!
- Or, cook it overnight.
You can also cook your crockpot apple oatmeal the night before so that it’s ready for you right when you wake up.
Simply follow the recipe as listed, cooking on low for 6-8 hours. Your crock pot apple oatmeal will be very soft and porridge-like!
- And don’t forget to prep the slow cooker!
To avoid an overly sticky mess, make sure to spray your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray (or use a disposable liner!) before adding your crockpot oatmeal ingredients.
Storing and Reheating Crockpot Apple Oatmeal
Store any leftover crockpot apple oatmeal in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will keep for up to 5 days.
Consider making a double-batch to enjoy all week long!!
To reheat oatmeal, add a splash of water or milk and microwave for 1 minute (more as necessary) or warm on the stove while stirring occasionally.
Crockpot Oatmeal Recipe FAQ
It depends on the temperature settings! Either cook on High for 1 hour, or on Low for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
For a very soft oatmeal, you can also cook on Low for 6-8 hours as instructed above!
Absolutely! You could also double or triple the batch to have crockpot oatmeal on hand at all times.
Cool crockpot oatmeal to room temperature, then portion it out into Ziploc bags for easy access.
Let it thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat it in the microwave in 1-minute bursts.
I personally like to peel mine, but that’s just my preference! You can certainly leave the skin on if you’d like — it will add color, flavor, and texture.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Breakfast Recipes
Cranberry Apple Crockpot Oatmeal (Great Meal Prep Recipe)
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 2 cups apples, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
- 1/2 cup craisins
- 1/8 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare your 5 quart slow cooker by spraying slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add all ingredients. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour or low for 1-1/2 – 2 hours.
- Serve and enjoy!
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published September 2015, updated and republished September 2024
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Can you use fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries instead of the Craisins?
I get up early, read this recipe, had all the ingredients in the crock pot by 6:00 am. Was eating a hearty bowlful at 8:30. So easy, quick, and yummy. This is so good, going to do again with peaches. Love it, thanks
I would like to subinstitute high protein lactose free milk for half of the water. Has anyone tried?
Is this possible with steel cut oats rather than the old fashioned oats?
Can you make this with quick Oates as I don’t like the old fashioned Oates? Thank you.
Hi Teresa. Unfortunately, quick oats will become very mushy in a slow cooker. Perhaps you could test the recipe using quick oats and cut back on the cook time. Let us know how it goes!
TSRI Team member,
Becca
This was so simple to make and ended up being such a delicious and easy breakfast! I think I will be making this regularly now!
You could cook this overnight without the mushy texture if using steel cut oats I think.